Opinion: The discourse following the Parkland shooting has to stay constructive

by Boris Epshteyn, Chief Political Analyst

(Sinclair Broadcast Group)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Boris Epshteyn formerly served as a Senior Advisor to the Trump Campaign and served in the White House as Special Assistant to The President and Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations.

WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - I want to keep talking to you about the aftermath of the heart-breaking shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Proposed actions range from more gun control, to enforcing the current laws on the books, resolving the mental health crisis in this country and stronger school safety.

These discussions have been diverse and, overall, constructive. They show that while we can be divided on how to approach a life or death issue, we can be united in the need for an approach that works.

We have already seen concrete action from our elected officials. The Senate is debating the Fix NICS Act, which the House has already passed. Yes, political wrangling is going on in the Senate over this bill. However, the fact that they are moving on it as fast as they are is a result of the outpouring of support for stronger background checks from us, the American people. I do think that Fix NICS will end up passing in the Senate.

President Trump is directing his administration to ban bump stocks as quickly as possible. That measure was stuck in no man’s land after it was proposed last fall in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting. Action is being taken because Americans are demanding it and the president is listening.

Here is the bottom line: this is not a time to get discouraged by the government’s procedures and bureaucracy. It’s important to stay encouraged and stay passionate, whichever side you fall on. That is how we will achieve real results.